S&W 38 Special Model Number, date of mfg, and other info.

Wessen Smith

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This is my first post on the site, and, because I am traveling, I don't have all the info requested to identify my revolver. This is what I have.
The Revolver was bought new by my father, I believe in 1955 or 1956. I still have the original box, which to my admittedly color blind eye is gold with blue print. The corners of the box are metal reinforced. The printing on the box specifies only Smith & Wessen, and military and police and the .38 S&W caliber. The serial number is 238920. The rear sight is fixed, the manual ejection cylinder swings out to the left of the frame, and I would estimate that the barrel is 6 1/2 inches long. I find no model identification anywhere on the box or the revolver. I would like to know the model number, year of manufacture, and any other pertinent info that is readily available. Thanks for any and all help.
 
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That serial number for a K frame m&p dates to 1953. There should be a letter C prefix on the box or on the gun. The correct model is Military and Police 38, or 38 M&P .
Very common, very dependable firearms, made by the hundreds of thousands. I have one serial number C363xxx that shipped in 1956.

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Bob is correct....caliber is very important. And the lack of a model number on the box is correct...S&W didn't assign model numbers before 1957, and I think yours is earlier than that.
 
Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Is the extractor rod shrouded like the picture below?


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If so, it is a .38/44 Heavy Duty and the serial number will start with an "S". That would make more sense to me for the 6.5" barrel, but the long barrel would also make it a rare gun and quite valuable in top condition.


EDIT: Ah, I read your post again and you state the box says "military & police." So, it pretty much has to be a 6" barrel, pre-model 10 with a C prefix.:(
 
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Not sure if the ejector rod is shrouded, and I don't recall seeing an S or a C associated with the SN. I will have to double check when I get home. Thanks for responding.
 
That serial number for a K frame m&p dates to 1953. There should be a letter C prefix on the box or on the gun. The correct model is Military and Police 38, or 38 M&P .
Very common, very dependable firearms, made my the hundreds of thousands. I have one serial number C363xxx that shipped in 1956.

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View attachment 510847

Thanks Robert. As an aside, how do you make the association between the SN and the manufacture date?
 
Thanks Robert. As an aside, how do you make the association between the SN and the manufacture date?
The std catalog of smith & wesson gives manufacturing date ranges for serial numbers...ship dates could be very different since smith and wesson did not ship in serial number order and different models may have shared the same serial number ranges. The M&Ps were pretty popular models so if yours was manufactured some time in 54 and dad bought it in 55, that would seem reasonable.
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Robert
 
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